Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is responsible for upper and lower respiratory tract infection in adults and children. Especially immunocompromised patients are at high risk for a severe course of infection, and mortality is increased. Moreover RSV can spread in healthcare settings and can cause outbreaks. Herein we demonstrate the successful control and characteristics of a RSV outbreak that included 8 patients in our Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology. Methods: We performed an epidemiologic investigation and a molecular analysis of the outbreak strains...

Background: Tunneled central venous catheters (CVC), called Broviac/Hickman catheter, are widely used in the long-term treatment of pediatric patients. Recently, the percutaneous approach for CVC insertion has become dominant as a less invasive intervention. In this study, we reviewed the mechanical and delayed complications according to different procedures of CVC insertion and assessed the risk factors for complications in CVC insertions for pediatric patients. Methods: A total of 159 pediatric patients (85 males and 74 females) were included in this study...

To identify discrepancies in fludeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG PET/CT) reports generated by general radiologists and subspecialized oncological radiologists for patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), and to assess if such discrepancies impact patient management.Two radiologists retrospectively reviewed 72 PET/CT scans of patients with DLBCL referred to our institutions between 2009 and 2011, and recorded the discrepancies between the outside and second-opinion reports regarding multiple preset criteria using kappa statistic (Κ), including the disease stage...

BACKGROUND: Immunocompromized patients exposed to varicella may experience significant morbidity and a 7% mortality rate. Management and outcome of an outbreak of varicella infection among hospitalized pediatric hemato-oncology patients using the guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Infectious Diseases is presented. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective study describes an outbreak of varicella infection between February 2011 and June 2011...

Many diseases have their treatment options narrowed and end up being fatal if detected during later stages. As a consequence, point-of-care devices have an increasing importance for routine screening applications in the health sector due to their portability, fast analyses and decreased cost. For that purpose, a multifunctional chip was developed and tested using gold nanoprobes to perform RNA optical detection inside a microfluidic chip without the need of molecular amplification steps. As a proof-of-concept, this device was used for the rapid detection of chronic myeloid leukemia, a hemato-oncological disease that would benefit from early stage diagnostics and screening tests...

In the past decade, the oncology community has witnessed major advances in the understanding of cancer biology and major breakthroughs in several different therapeutic areas, from solid tumors to hematological malignancies; moreover, the advent of effective immunotherapy approaches, such as immune-checkpoint blockade, is revolutionizing treatment algorithms in almost all oncology disease areas. As knowledge evolves and new weapons emerge in the "war against cancer", clinical and translational research need to adapt to a rapidly changing environment to effectively translate novel concepts into sustainable and accessible therapeutic options for cancer patients...

INTRODUCTION: Posterior reversible leukoencephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a clinical syndrome of varying aetiologies, characterised by acute neurological symptoms of brain dysfunction with MRI abnormalities in posterior cerebral white and grey matter. In most cases, symptoms resolve without neurological consequences. AIM: The aim of this paper is the analysis of predisposing factors, clinical outcomes and radiological features of PRES in eight children with hemato-oncological disease...

BACKGROUND: Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) account for significant morbidity and mortality in patients with long-term central venous catheters (CVCs). This study was performed to identify the characteristics and risk factors of CLABSIs among children with long-term CVCs. METHODS: A retrospective review of children who had a long-term CVC in Seoul National University Children's Hospital between 2011 and 2015 was performed. Data on patient demographics, the isolated pathogens, and the status of CVC placement were collected...

Background: The demand for transplantable organs exceeds donor organ supply. Transplantation of organs from donors with a history of malignancy remains controversial and the transmission of cancer in liver transplant recipients has not been sufficiently examined. Methods: From 2002 until 2017, 83 livers from donors with a history of malignancy were transplanted at the University Hospital Essen, Germany. Donor and recipient data, type of malignancy, tumor-free interval at organ procurement, and follow-up data were analyzed...

OBJECTIVES: (1-3)-ß-D-Glucan (BDG) is a marker for invasive fungal diseases (IFD). Administration of intravenous immunoglobulin preparations (IVIG) has been reported to lead to false positive BDG serum levels >80 pg/ml. The aim of the study was to determine the time interval between IVIG infusion and normalisation of BDG serum levels. METHODS: In 22 paediatric haemato-/oncologic patients, we analysed 92 BDG serum levels obtained within 4 weeks after IVIG administration (0...

BACKGROUND: We investigated the clinical characteristics of a pediatric population with hemato-oncological disease and intracranial hypertension, analyze the therapeutic response and outcome, and compare its characteristics with respect to a control group with idiopathic intracranial hypertension. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed patients with hemato-oncological disease and secondary intracranial hypertension in our center during the past five years. We compared these individuals with a historical cohort with idiopathic intracranial hypertension from our institution (control group)...

Hemato-oncologic patients with chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia are one of the populations receiving platelet transfusions. The general practice with these patients is to give prophylactic platelet transfusions when platelet counts fall below 10×109PLT/L. However, in more than 40% of these patients, platelet transfusion does not prevent bleeding. The reason of the low efficacy of platelet transfusion in the context of chemotherapy patients is not entirely understood. We therefore aimed at immunophenotyping the expression of platelet surface and activation markers and thrombopoietin levels from hemato-oncologic patients before and after transfusion...

Sphingolipid derivatives play key roles in immune cell migration and function. Synthetic sphingolipid analogues are used as therapeutics to intervene various inflammatory and malignant conditions. We hypothesize that different analogs have different effects on immune cells and therefore can be used as treatment for specific diseases. This study examines the properties of the novel synthetic sphingolipid analog, AD2900, and its effects on immune cell activation and lymphocyte localization in homeostasis. AD2900 is an antagonist for all sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptors...

OBJECTIVES: The emergence of colistin resistance has been detected worldwide in recent years. Whilst colistin susceptibility has been tested in carbapenem resistant Enterobacteriaceae as well as multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas spp. and Acinetobacter spp. during routine laboratory practice, the overall rate of colistin resistance was unknown in our centre. The aim of this retrospective study was to reveal the prevalence of colistin resistance among clinically significant blood culture isolates in two different periods (2010-2011 and 2016) in our laboratory...

BACKGROUND: Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) is a life-threatening disorder that occurs mainly in patients with high-tumor burden hemato-oncologic malignancies. It results in metabolic derangements, including hyperuricemia and acute renal failure. The powerful management for TLS is a daily dose of rasburicase for up to 5 days before chemotherapy; however, the optimal dose and duration of rasburicase for TLS prophylaxis have not been standardized for patients at high risk for TLS. Therefore, we evaluated the efficacy of single-dose rasburicase for prophylactic purposes in patients with malignant lymphoma at high risk for TLS...

BACKGROUND: There are several empiric antibiotic treatment options for febrile neutropenia, yet there is no universally-accepted initial protocol. We aimed to assess the performance of a protocol (piperacillin, gentamicin and cefazolin) introduced over 40 years ago and compare its coverage against bacteria isolated from blood of neutropenic patients with that of various commonly used antibiotic treatment protocols. METHODS: Adults with neutropenia admitted between 2003 and 2012 to the hemato-oncologic departments and in whom blood cultures were taken on admission were included...

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is an established treatment for patients with severe congenital or acquired hemato-/oncological disorders. Despite major improvements, HSCT remains associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Implementation of a quality management system has become standard practice not only for industries when their products or services are associated with significant risks to human safety but also in the healthcare sector. The use of a quality management system contributes to better products and services and improved patient's outcome after medical interventions...

Sphingolipid derivatives play key roles in immune cell migration and function. Synthetic sphingolipid analogues are used as therapeutics to intervene various inflammatory and malignant conditions. We hypothesize that different analogs have different effects on immune cells and therefore can be used as treatment for specific diseases. This study examines the properties of the novel synthetic sphingolipid analog, AD2900, and its effects on immune cell activation and lymphocyte localization in homeostasis. AD2900 is an antagonist for all sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptors...

BACKGROUND: Peripheral blood dyscrasias in older patients are repeatedly seen in geriatric clinical practice; however, there is substantial lack of data about the epidemiology, possible causes and treatment options in this patient group. Proton pump inhibitors (PPI) are extensively used in older patients and associated with leukopenia. The primary objective of this study was the assessment of encoded cytopenia prevalence in a geriatric patient cohort and the secondary objective was the assessment of putative causes and the analysis of PPI administration in patients with cytopenia...